Mediaday at Andravida Air Base in Greece on the 29th of March 2017
First of all we thank the Hellenic Air Force for their great hospitality during this event.
Welcome speeches by:
HAF Chief Lieutenant General Christos Christodoulou
Minister of National Defence Panos E. Kammenos
On Wednesday March 29th, 2017, the International Joint Air Force Exercise titled “Iniohos 2017” welcomed domestic and foreign press representatives with a show of the exercise at the amphitheater of the 117th Combat Wing, located at the Andravida Air Base.
Amongst those present at the show, were the Minister of Defense, Mr. Panos Kammenos, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, Admiral Evangelos Aposolakis, the Ambassador of the United States to Greece, Mr. Geoffrey R. Pyatt, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Greece, Mr. Sultan Mohammed Majed Alali, the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force, Lt. General Christos Christodoulou, the Chief of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force, Lt. General Georgios Blioumis, high ranking staff of the Hellenic Army and Navy and other representatives of the participating forces.
Following the briefing, the Minister of Defense awarded Sq. Leader Marinos Leventis, from the 336th Squadron, for the Squadron’s successful performance amongst the other participants in the first Air Training Session of the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP).
Exercise INIOHOS 2017
The International Joint Medium Scale Air Force Exercise, titled «Iniohos 2017», which consists of complex air operations across the geographical area within the Athens FIR, will be taking place from Monday, March 27th until Thursday, April 6th, 2017. Amongst those participating in the exercises, are the air forces from Israel, the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates and Italy, while observers from the National Guard General Staff will also be present.
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) Air Tactics Center is called Kentro Aeroporikis Taktikis (KEAT). It has its home at Andravida Air Base in the north western part of the Peloponesian Peninsula and KEAT hosted its annual Iniohos exercise. This was established in the late 80’s as small scale HAF-exclusive air exercise, but a transformation was announced in late 2013, based on experiences abroad during exercises like Red Flag in the USA and the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) held in Europe. Iniohos was converted to a medium scale INVITEX (“Invite Exercise”) so that interested foreign nations could participate. Also, instead of operating from their home bases, all participating assets would relocate and operate from Andravida Air Base, in the so-called single base concept.
Participants
Israel
Returning from a mission is F-16D-40-CF Barak 624 from 105sq "The Scorpion Squadron" based at Hatzor.
Ready for an afternoon mission are two F-16D-40-CFs from the 101sq "The First Fighter Squadron" also from Hatzor.
Gulfstream G550 "Nanchshon Aitam ’" AEW&C of 122 Squadron based at Nevatim Air Base. Taking-off for an airborne early warning and control mission.
Italy
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
The 51º Stormo "Ferruccio Serafini" from Istrana participated with the AMX.
The UAE brought their F-16Es to Andravida. They belong to the Fighter Wing stationed at Abu Dhabi/Al Dhafra.
USA
The U.S. representative on Iniohos 2017 is the U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon "Makos" from the 93rd Fighter Squadron, 482nd Fighter Wing. The 93d Fighter Squadron (93 FS) is part of the 482d Fighter Wing at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.
Greece
Still going strong the F-4E (AUP). Photos: left 01505 from 339 MPK "Aias (Ajax)" with Phantom II 1974-2014 markings; right 01510 from 338 MDV "Aris (Mars)" with 60 years anniversary (December 2012) markings on the tail.
331 Combat Wing from Tanagra was present with the Mirage 2000-5 from 331 Mira"Thiseas".
All Hellenic Air Force combat wings flying with the F-16 were present at Andravida. The photo shows F-16C-52+-CF number 521 from 340 Mira "Fox", part of 115 Combat Wing based at Souda (Crete).